redgkey,Permanent loss of the "departed" coring assembly is...

redgkey,

Permanent loss of the "departed" coring assembly is certainly a possibility, however if that happens then the subsequent decision to abandon the drill is only one of the options - and a highly unlikely one given the positive indications in this drill to date.

The other much more likely option is to sidetrack the well. In simplistic terms they will just pour some cement down the hole to fill it up from the bottom until they get to the point where they want to re-start drilling. They will then place a small wedge at the top of the cement which will direct the drill head off at a slight angle from the current direction of the hole, and they will simply drill down around and past the blockage and back into the zones of interest.

It's common practice and if it happens you will start to see terminology used such as JW1-ST1 which will be a reference to Johnstone West 1 - Side Track 1 hole.

This hole is a long way from being dead yet.

Cheers

Badfish